Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1887-04-14
CONTEMPT OF COURT.
deputy Collector Thomas F. Murphy Re-
fuses to Give Evidence
VI the Payment OF Retail L,o.o- D
ers Special Tax,

=, "upeIior court yesterday afternoon
tue case OF State vs.. Reuben C, Hall of Cav
diner for keeping liquor nuisance came -,
ior trial and one of the witnesses called no.
ihomas +. Murphy to testify relative 70 Tho
payment oy Hall of a retail liquor dealer.
special tax
AFTER the usual preliminary examination
the counsel for the government continued.
Vuestinn-Will you produce a certified
eopy OF inc record that you have in your of.
nee reiatirg to the payment of a special TOW
VI retail liquor dealer for the wear corr
menclng May, 1886, by Reuben C. Hall of
Gardiner? Vi
Witness-No.
cline? 'ou oe-
Wltness-On the ground that if I did an i,
YOU'D De against public policy. As an Of.
ncer Oh the general governments having
Iakeh Solemn oath 10 protect its interests,
l DO not feel myself JUS flied il. doing or sa,
ing that which might tend to isiure q, raduoo
the COLLECTIONS of internal revenue in tho
territory over which have charge. and NV
Instructions, as l understand them. warrant
me IN declining to produce in this court doc
umehtary or other evidence which I have on
'alned Ia the performance of nv official dutv
whlch might be used against apy nerson
sought To De prosecuted under the prohibitorv
laws OF Maine. Therefore, your honor T
decline respectfully and conscientiouslv tn
comply with the order Of the court
The Court-To what instructions do w,
refer '"N
Wltness-Fo verbal instructions received
from the collector
The Court-(ro County Attorney Waiv-
L.
any other questions to put?
County Attorney-(To witnesO Have xou
received as deputy collector, during the spec-
ial tax year commencing May lst, 1886, the
sum of S25 of Reuben C. Hall of Gardiner?
Wltness-l think have stated In giving
my reasons for declining to furnish record
that considered myself warranted in de-
chang To furnish documentary or other evil
dence which | ootaioed in the performance
of my official duties.
The Court-And you decline to answer that
question
Witness-I do.
County Auorney-(To witness) Have YOU
handed Reuben G. Hall of Gardiner a receipt
tor the payment of sum Of money for a
United States special tax as a retail liquor
dealer, as deputy collector for the tax year
commencing May lst, 1886 or any receipt
~ ~ va 1912 i'i =" "a" "' sueu ueai
er in any portion OF the year?
The Court-You may answer that.
"Hness-lhaI WIS covered IN my other
answers.
The Court-You decline for the same rea-
sons?
Witness-Yes; the same principle is in
'olVeo'
ne iolio"l lug Is an aostract or the court
reply 1oe fea~ ohs given oV the witness
ioF uecAhln2 mere 10 Iurhish certlned copy
VI W a''".' que'"o'e' Al 'uy ~ is"e"l re-
move the sltuatioh from the ordinary Gaze OF
c'"tu'hHc'Iuo "i'hess' as IL IL manifest
'h"' Tux ~ no purpose W We c'h'u'hacious
Soie's' '"e au-h"''y Vi 'ne court VIII o7 ex
erclsta III III 'hH. rs me oppress 10
.he "ltneS' I, r'"h"i'E - practlcaoie. facts,
IN my ludsmtht' ~ an IN fac' are conc o.
Gu " DC ",'h'h MS hno" 'e"se "s tne fecoro'
10 ~. Ky VI a;,,, -, az ,,. -,
facts. which are essential to the administra-
ton of justice, AS answers to those questions
can be readily gwen rom ms kno"ieu9e' or
a. a'' .an,, r,;sa, oonv of !, !,
seems to me that the administration OF JUS
tice, the essential function Of all civil govern
ment. would De ehtirtly 1hwarteu IL ne as
WV ,." l,,oh taa,,n"nu No ia smanable to the
Jurisdiction of This court. He is not only
within its jurisdiction In fact, but Is citizen
OF the otatF' ne h'o iac'' IA MS po''.' .n;a
eaa. T., go 20 mo nertecilv clear that it
il the duty of this court. therefore, to issue
an attachment against the witness as being
III contempt OF the authority Oh Tue cour', a"u
~. ne 10 10 s'.,I ,hot a,t.nhmon, can he mon.
erly filed | do not desire to make this ac-
ton of the court oppressive to the witness
personally, ana therefore, as 1 ueste " GA
au,'ne ii''le ."'sm ,,h ,n rscommend To
the sheriff that he take the WITNESSES own rec
ognizance until tomorrow morning at ten
o'clock, when ne VIII De requ'reu " oe p
en' as "i'ne 90, nn ran,gn;zarce
.;u .at,.a 70 tast;fv this
;.u nil, q, onca annlv
,,' WIZ. 90 por,,.rd If the limited
So D;..-;o, Corr, for writ of habeas
- $500. ,;h.r,,;,a him The case will then
I,. uohh and Is the decision
81 s,,, .,.a.,, NJ M,rnbv he can
49,. u.;.aa c,.,.s C;rcpit Court.
~ppe"' s $50 Conr, Mr. Murpbv if